Before you blow the whistle

— The ANA reminds nurses that whistleblowing is a serious matter that should not be taken lightly, and should be done only after exhausting other ways to resolve the issue. Nurses, including McNamara, say whistleblowing can take a toll on nurses’ emotional health. Although her co-workers never shunned her, McNamara felt repercussions from administrators. “I worked in a culture where several people believed it was better to suppress issues rather than address them,’ she said. “It was a long battle and there were many sleepless nights and grey hairs before justice prevailed.” — Castillo said several federal and state laws protect nurses and other healthcare workers from facing backlash from their employers if they report issues that threaten public health or safety, or violate the law. The Occupational Health and Safety Act is a federal law that protects workers against retaliation. Many states also have their own health and safety laws.

For nurses who wants to report what they view as unethical or unlawful conduct in the workplace, Castillo recommends taking the following steps before blowing the whistle. — The American Nurses Association recommends all nurses reserve judgment until they have adequate documentation to establish wrongdoing. McNamara kept extensive records of all incidents, dates and correspondence before meeting with her supervisor. Ultimately, she had pages of documents to help build her case. — “Often nurses will call us and ask if we can help to evaluate a situation and determine if they have a legitimate concern,” Castillo said. In addition to offering an objective perspective on the situation, organizations such as the NNU also can suggest ways for nurses to identify sources of support or resolve the situation through mediation. — Even if nurses aren’t part of a union, Castillo said they can join NNU’s Health and Safety campaign, a network of member and non-member nurses and allies committed to advocating for nurse health and safety.